SYMVII.EE.E. UERBERIDEA:. ilENISPEUMAfE.K. 655 



XEi.riiuo, Adanson. 



N. xrcri-ERA, Gaoilu. I'ugu, in stagnant water. 



Nelumhium upeciosum, AVilld. 



Pa-dung-nia (Mason). 



This is a lianilsome plant and nsefiil as fiKid. Tlie seeds are eaten eitlier raw 

 or cooked, and the long tap root is boiled as a vegetable, and like others of its tribe 

 is rich in starch. The ])lant is highly symbolical, and held in mystic reverence by 

 Hindus, with wliom, as wilh the Egyptians, it typifies the fecund powers of nature, 

 and it is the throne of the gods, who are commonly represented as seated on it. 



Older BEKBEllIDE^. 



Flotrers regular, hermaphrodite (save in Larilizahalii'te). Sepals G-l. in 2 whorls 

 or 3, and petaloid. I'e/ah in many, or twice as many, rarely wanting. iS.'iimciis -1-9, 

 in 2 or 3 series, o]iposite the petals, hypogynous. Anthir-celh opening by a longi- 

 tudinal slit or by recurved valves. Carpels 1-3 (rarely more), with 2 or several 

 (rarely 1) ovules in each. Style short. Albumen copious. Shi'ubs or small trees. 



I.ARDIZABAIJF.K. 

 -^ Leaves digitate. Flowers unisexual. Staiions munadclphous. Carpels '.i. Climhtrs. 



Parvatia Brun'oxiana, if. f., is stated to come from !Mergui. As uo specimens exist 

 at Kew from there, Kurz omits it from his Flora of Burma. 



BERBERIDIE.E. 

 -\--\- Fluirers liermaphrodite. Carpel .solilur;/. 



Bkrberis, Zinnmts. 



Sepals C, with 2 or 3 appressed bracts, imbricate, in 2 sci-ies. Petals as many, 

 imbricate. Stamens G, free. Anther-eells opening by valves. Ovary 1 -celled, with 

 a few basal ovules. Fruit a few-seeded berry. Flowers yellow, usually in racemes. 



B. (Mahonia) Nepalensis, DC. F.S. Tenasserini. 



Ji. Le.se/ienaultii, Wall. 



The plants of tliis genus yield a bitter principle, ' Tlerherine,'' a useful tonic in 

 cases of indigestion and febrifuge. The watery extract, called in India 'Jiusot,' is 

 esteemed as a valuable febrifuge. The bark is astringent, and some species yield a 

 yellow dye. 



Order ilEXISPEinr.VCE.T:. 



Flowers dicccious. Sepals usually 6, rarely 1-1 or 9-12, usually free, in 2-4 

 series. Petals 6, rarely 1-5 or none, free or connate. JIales : Stamens hypogynous. 

 Filaments and Anthers free or connate, the latter 2- celled. Ovaries rudimentarj- or 

 none. Females: Staminodes G or ncme. Ovaries 3, rarely 1 or C-12, with a solitary 

 or rarely 2 ovules in each. Style terminal or lateral. liipe carpels drupaceous, with 

 an almost basal and excentrical style-scar. Seeds usually curved or reniforni, tiic 

 cudocaq) often intruding. Albumen even, or ruminate or none. Cotyledons fleshy or 

 Icai'y. Herbs or scandent shrubs. Leaves usually palmately nerved, alternate. Stipules 

 none. Flowers minute. 



TJXosroRiE.i:. 



Carpels 3, rarely G. Style-scar almost terminal, rarely ventral or almost basal. Seeds 

 meniscoid or rarely oblong, albuminous. Cotyledons leafy, iisually spreading laterally. 



X Petals 6, shorter than the inner sepals. Style-sear almost terminal. 

 Parab.t;xa, Jliers. 

 Sepals 6. Filaments connate, the anthers in heads. Seeds meuiscoid. 



